The 2020 U.S. election presents unique challenges and opportunities for political science students and educators. In response, the American Political Science Association is seeking teaching resources focused on the 2020 U.S. election, the presidential transition, and the incoming Biden-Harris administration to be featured on Educate – APSA’s new teaching resource library. If you are discussing the election with your students, please consider sharing your teaching materials with your colleagues by uploading them…
By Emily Sydnor In Making Young Voters, John B. Holbein and D. Sunshine Hillygus argue that young voters are no less interested in politics than their older counterparts but nonetheless are far less likely to vote than any other age cohort. Why? Because many of them lack the perseverance needed to overcome the institutional hurdles…
By Athena King The 2020 Presidential Election has been described by academics, pundits, and reporters alike as perhaps the “most important election in our lifetime.” There are those who give full-throated support of President Trump and the current administration, despite his unorthodox behavior over the past four years. At the same time, there are those…
Dr. Brittany Perry, Instructional Associate Professor, Texas A&M University at College Station bnperry@tamu.edu & Professional Website Although the representation of women and minorities in STEM subjects has improved in recent decades, a lack of diversity remains an issue across a range of fields (e.g. Porter and Serra, 2019; APLU, 2016). Within political science, gender and race…
By Shannon Bow O’Brien Every election has winners and losers. After the election, some of our students will be ecstatic, while others will be devastated. Both groups, however, will almost certainly have questions. Many will have unrealistic expectations and concerns about the next four years. After an election, my courses occasionally feel like a talk…
Victor Asal, State University of New York, Albany This essay originally appeared in the Political Science Educator’s Winter 2017 issue. I am writing to you as the new editor in chief of the Journal of Political Science Education (JPSE). The team of editors — myself, Mitchell Brown, Shane Nordyke, Joseph W. Roberts, Mark Johnson, and…
William O’Brochta, Washington University in St. Louis Political science instructors across subfields utilize civic and community engagement activities to increase the relevance of course content, to help students understand diverse perspectives, and to provide avenues for students to get engaged in their community. Many such activities are one-time assignments that students complete on their own….
By Emily M. Farris and Mirya R. Holman In Tarrant county, Texas, President Trump is on the ballot—in more ways than one. Republican incumbent sheriff Bill Waybourn, first elected in 2016, has been an advocate for Trump’s immigration policies, signing a 287g agreement that deputizes jail officers to enforce immigration laws and frequently appearing on…
Adam Irish University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign This essay originally appeared in the Political Science Educator’s Spring 2012 edition. My first experiences teaching students to write occurred during a two‐year stint as a Teach For America (TFA) teacher in Las Vegas, NV. I struggled to illuminate the importance of basic writing concepts to my students….
Ellen Grigsby – University of New Mexico This essay originally appeared in the Political Science Educator’s Spring 2011 issue. Political theory instructors seeking to emphasize close textual analysis may find it challenging to teach in such a manner as to achieve a balance between the time-consuming task of modeling and underscoring a close reading of…